Flying machine



May 4,1926. 1,583,147

A. w. HERRICK FLYING'MAGHIN Filed June 22, 1925 JNVENToIc MW BYv d v ATT NEX".

Patented May 4, 1926. i l

UNITED STATES ARTHUR W. HEERICLOE BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN.

FLYING MAcIIImaz.y

Application led June 22, 1925.v Serial No. 38,795.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ARTHUR YV. HERRICK,"

a citizen of the United States, residing at ABattle Creek, in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying v forms a specification.

The present invention relates to flying machines and it particularly has reference to machines of the character in which motive power is supplied by the aviator through the medium ofa foot-lever ,mechanism and suitable -gearing trained to operate a propeller.

A characteristic feature of the' present invention is a. chassis having three wheels so arranged and connected that the machine will be properly stabilized while on the ground, and when at an altitude the trailer third wheel will form a rudder by which the machine may be laterally guided in its course.

A novel feature of the construction is a.

foot-lever ratchet mechanism by which dead centers are eliminatedv and all motive force directly applied to operate the propeller.

Another feature of importance is the provision of gas-inflated wings designed in the usual mannerto cut the air and form a buoying medium during flight. l

An object of importance is a stabilizing device in the nature of a vertically-arranged balance-wheel aligned with its periphery in the direction of flight, to minimize air resistance and to act as a power storage.

Another object of great advantage-is to arrange the driving mechanism whereby momentum to operate 'the propeller may be drawn on or curtailed while the vdriving mechanism is in operation, and whereby the speed of the propellermay be increased or diminished during the operation of said driving mechanism. f f

Still another object of the invention is to so construct the pedals that their alternatingv movements will be equal and friction between their operating parts be reduced to a minimum. Y u

vThe foregoing and other objects and advantages will' be apparent to those familiar with the art towhich my invention app-ertains.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure l represents aside ele,-

vation ofmy improved flying machine.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine. Fig. 3 is a detail modification of the shiftfriction driving-.mechanism and frame part.

Like marks of reference refer to corresponding or equivalent parts in the different views, in which A represents forward wheels connected by a common axle l; B, a webbed rear wheel and laterally guiding rudder journalled in a fork 2 pivoted to a post .3, said fork having laterally-extending larms 4 from the extremity' of which connecting links 5 engage with the ends ofva` cross-bar 6 mounted at the lower end of a shaftvjournailed in a vertical post 7, the upper end of said shaft carrying a handle `8 centrally pivoted thereto, by which means said shaft may be oscillated in'the post 7, and the wheel B swayed sidewise in laterally steering the machine, thehandle 8 in its swiveled connection with said shaftV being also adapted to tilt an elevating and lowering tail-wing, as hereinafter set forth. I

Between they forward wheels A, an inverted U-shaped frame C is placed in vertical position` with its lower limbs engaging the axle 1, its free ends curving` down and forward and forming bearings to which pedallevers 9 are pivoted.

Diagonal braces 10 extend from near the "7 curved end of the frame C and engage the axle l at its junctionV with the wheels A.v At t-he ends of the axle l, braces 1l are' rattached and extend laterally upward and enga'gethe outer ends of inflatable wings l), thence exi tend upward and are securedl to the outer ends of an upper cross-wing E, said wing E at its rear being supported by a reduced extension of the post 8. The inner ends of the wingsl) are stabilized by braces 12 attached tothe'diagonal frame braces 10. i

As willbe noted, the wing E crosses the entire machine and is plac-edin such position Vthat it serves both as a shade and storm protector for the aviator, andits position and shape is such that it, tends to `stabilize the As shown, a cross shaft 13 extends through the sides of the frame C and at its ends carries housed ratchets, the housings 14 of Which on their exterior have gear teeth adapted to engage With racks 15 pivoted to the foot levers 9, and that said racks may be kept in operative contact With the housings of said ratchets, the racks operate through yokes 16 pivoted on the shaft 13. The foot levers D are joined by ,means of a flexible connection consisting of sidel cords 17 and an intermediate piece of link belt 18, said belt being trained over a gear segment 19 journalled on a stud affixed to a cross girt 2O between the side members of a forked and rearwardly-curved central frame-part 21. The forward ends of the frame 21 engage the axle 1 at its junction With the frame C, the rear end of the part 21 being secured in a bracket 22 carried by t-he post 3, as shown. Between the forks of the frame 21 the post 7 is mounted, and to the rear ofsaid post thevaviators seat 23 is placed.

By the provision of the flexible connections betvven the foot levers, as one lever is ydepressed the opposite lever Will rise, and

i obearing 27 mounted on a shaft 28 disposed y vice versa. The' ratchet-s Within the housings 14 are such that by depressingv a` foot lever motion Will be imparted to the shaft 13, and through the medium of a gear 24 on said shaft communicate motion to a secondary shaft 25 through a pinion 26 on said shaft. The shaft 25 at one end is journaled in'r a bearing attached Where one of the braces engages With the U-frame C, the opposite end of the shaft being carried in a transversely to theshaft 25, said shaft 28 at its rear end being journaled in an offset bearing 29 of the post 7 The shaft 25 carries a balance Wheel 30 which may form a part with the pinion 26, shown in the modified form in Fig. 3. This bala-nce Wheel opposite to the pinion 26 is slightly concave near its center for the pur,

pose of clearance for a friction roller 31 carried at the inner end of a sleeve 32 longitudinally mounted on the shaft 28, but rotatable With said shaft through the medium of a spline 33 (shown in Fig. 3). The reverse side of the balance Wheel is formed with' a beveled 'raced 34 against which a beveled roller 35 bears, and is for the purpose of preventing said balance Wheel and its shaft from yielding longitudinally when the friction roller 31 is moved in contact With its opposite face in driving said roller and its shaft 28.

rlhe sleeve 32 is longitudinally moved on the shaft l28 bymeans of a hand lever 36 'and a trunnioned ring through which said sleeve operates, the trunnions of said ring extending Vthrough oppositely-disposed slots in said lever. The object of the longitudithe balance Wheel 30, hereinbefore set forth,

motion of said roller and co-operative parts Would be eliminated, as will be obvious.

For the convenience of the operator in regulating his speed, the hand lever v36 is made adjustable through the medium of a quadrant 38, into the notches of which a hand-latching mechanism 39 of the usual construction is adapted to operate.

Attached to the outer end of the shaft 28, a spur gear 40 meshes With a corresponding pinion (not shown) on the'shaft 41 on which the propeller 42 is mounted, said shaft 41 being journaled in a bearing 43 vmounted between the frame sides C.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 3, theA form shown, a horizontal, curved frame-tie 44 connects the side members of the U- shaped frame C, and between a curved lateral extension of said tie and a correspondingly-formed bracket 45 the bevel roller 35 is mounted.

Referring to the mechanism for tilting the elevating `and loweringwing 36: this Wing extends transversely over the lateral guiding Wheel B and is attached to the bracket 22 by a hinge 47, and is operated by the handle bar 8. On the spindle to the handle bar a gear segment 48 is also mounted and over this segment a short link belt 49 is trained. To the ends of this belt, flexible cords 50 are attached and pass down onk wardly-extending bracket 55 of said Wing. n

Obviously, tilting the handle 8 would pull on one of the cords 50 and exert a. pulling strain on the Wing 46 and tilt said Wing on its hinged connection with the post 3 inthe direction of the pull, at which time the opposite cord would draw back, and vice versa.

Throughout thel description of the machine I have referred to bearings Generally speaking, oscillating and rotary moving partsare preferably fitted with suitable ball bearings whereby all friction of the associated parts will be rendered as slight as compatible with rigidity. The framework should bermade up of bamboo, aluminum, magnesium, or combinations of these or other' light materials. n

A machine `of the character described and set forth provides a neat and novel device for gliding and recreation purpo-ses not attained in the large, cumbersome and expensive planes generally in use.

Obviously, modifications other than those I have set forth might be resorted to in carrying out my invention without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages disclosed, and I therefore consider my own all such modifications and adaptations of the forms of the apparatus illustrated and described as do not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention as outlined in the appended claims.

Having, therefore, set forth my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a `device of the character set forth, the combination of a chassis having three triangularly-arranged carriage wheels, two of the wheels being oppositely disposed on a common axle, an inverted U-shaped frame engaging said axle intermediate its supporting wheels, a brace on either side of said frame engaging said axle near its supporting wheels, a forked supporting frame-part extending from said U-shaped frame rearward and uniting with a steering head, a fork journaled in said head in which a steering or third wheel is journaled, a seat fitted forward of said steering head mounted on saidV forked supporting frame part forward of said seat, a steering post mounted in said ysteering head, and means connecting said steering wheel with said steering head whereby said wheel may be laterally adjusted.

2. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a chassis having three triangularly-arranged carriage wheels, two of said wheels being oppositely disposed on a common axle, an inverted U-shaped framework mounted intermediate of said wheels on said axle, foot levers pivoted atthe ends of said framework, a cross shaft journaled in said framework carrying a large gear and two ratchets, a link connectingl a ratchet and a foot lever either side of said gear, a gear segment mounted on said chassis, a chain section trained over said gear segment and having end extensions engaging said foot levers, as and for the purpose set forth.

l3. Ina device of the character set forth,

the combination with a'chassis having three j carriage wheels in triangular arrangement, two, of said Vwheels mounted on a common axle, a framework mounted on said axle and ward, a. plane carried between the ends of said brace members above and to the rear of said propeller and engaging said standard centrally to its rear, a plane mounted above said axle either side of said propeller and supported at the outer ends by said'members and at the inner ends by brace members on said U-shaped frame.

4. In a device of the character set forth, a balance wheel having a recessed center portion concentric withv its axle, a propellershaft disposed across the axis of 4said wheel, a propeller on said shaft, a longitudinallymovable sleeve on said shaft adapted to rotate with said shaft, a friction roller mounted on said sleeve and rotatable therewith, said roller adapted to bear upon the face'of saidl balance wheel and receive rotatable movement therefrom, means to longitudinally move said sleeve on said propeller Vshaft and move said rollerinto and out of engagementwith said balance wheel, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a balance wheel having a beveled race on one side thereof, a bevel roller mounted to bear on said race, said wheel on its opposite side being formed with a flat surface and having a central concentric dished cavity, a propeller shaft disposedk y across the axis of said wheel, a propeller on .said shaft, a longitudinally-movable sleeve on said shaft, a friction roller aliixed on said sleeve, said roller adapted -to bear upon the face of said wheel and to receive motion therefrom and be at neutral when moved into the dished cavity of said wheel, means to rotatably move said sleeve with said shaft, and means to longitudinally move said sleeve on said shaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In av device ofthe character set forth, i

the combination with a chassis, supporting members extending above said chassis, a propeller shaft carrying a propeller journaled in said supporting members, a balance wheel journaled to roll transversely to the plane of ysaid propeller and edgewise to the path of flight of said machine, means to rotate said balance wheel, means to impart mo-tion to said propeller from said balance wheel, and

means to rotate said balance wheel independent of said propeller shaft. Y v

' ARTHUR W. HERRICK. 

